Texans defensive end Jon Greenard's breakthrough second NFL season is over.
Greenard was ruled out during the second half of Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium due to a foot injury.
Greenard, who also battled a shoulder injury this season, recorded a career-high eight sacks this season. He had 12 quarterback hits, two forced fumbles and nine tackles for losses and four passes defensed in a dozen games.
Greenard was an obvious bright spot during this rebuilding season. The former third-round draft pick and All-Southeastern Conference from the University of Florida who dominated future first-round draft offensive tackles in college like the University of Georgia’s Andrew Thomas, now with the New York Giants, is building a reputation as an extremely difficult blocking assignment.
Greenard's average as a pass rusher is incredibly high. The native of Hiram, Ga. (population 3,456), earlier this season, led the NFL with a sack for every 13.7 pass rushing snaps played for the top rate in the league.
How does Greenard get the job done? It’s about playing hard, working smart and always chasing the football. There’s a developing savvy with Greenard to go with his determination. He’s learning fast and is one of the Texans’ best players regardless of position and arguably one of the most valuable players for a team trying to build for the future.
"Just playing relentless, just handling my job, reading my keys, beating my guy, just trying to make a play," Greenard said. "I mean overall, the defense, we're all trying to make a play. I was just at the right place right time, I think."
With each long arm, bull rush, chop, rip and swim move, Greenard is proving his point. His aggressive style allows him regularly penetrate the backfield and he has become a key element of defensive coordinator Lovie Smith’s 4-3 scheme that relies nearly exclusively on the four-man front to get after the quarterback. Without Greenard winning one-on-one battles, the Texans’ defense has little hope of keeping offenses honest.
"He's rushing his butt off, and I'm happy to see it,” said Texans defensive end Jacob Martin, who tackled Murray for a safety last week. “It's exciting. It's awesome to see him ball out, for sure."
Greenard is regarded as an ascending young player whose rare motor and a growing understanding of how to apply his moves are paying dividends. He’s become the top pass rusher on the Texans. Greenard finished with three more sacks than former Texans defensive end J.J. Watt’s team-high five sacks last season.
“Well, I think he’s been a bright spot,” Texans coach David Culley said. “He’s making some plays. He’s playing hard, and I think that whole group is playing hard there. Basically, he’s been the one that has been able to make a few individual plays, but I think for the most part, that whole group has been playing well. He’s just been the guy that’s been able to make a few more plays.”
The Texans sacked Murray four times last week. Greenard continues to be a major factor despite the Texans’ record.
“Jon’s a dog,” defensive tackle Ross Blacklock said. “He’s just finding ways to get back there. We all kind of work together in sync. We all try to figure out ways for each other to win.
“We’ve had long talks, and I know he’s ready to take over. Each game he’s just getting better and better, and it’s exciting to watch. I’m beyond happy for him, and I just know the sky’s the limit for him.”
As a graduate transfer from Louisville, Greenard was an impact player for the Gators. He was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection who recorded 9½ sacks, 52 tackles, 15½ for losses, one interception and three forced fumbles.
At 6-3, 263 pounds, Greenard is a classic tweener who plays the game with a lot of power.
Greenard is a student of the game whose first-step quickness tells a different story than his ordinary 4.87 40-yard dash time. Greenard’s 10-yard split of 1.71 seconds is impressive.
Greenard has an extensive bunch of pass-rushing moves. He combines strength, quickness and heavy hands to control blockers and disengage to create big plays.
As a player, Greenard’s first-step quickness, violent power and ability to create leverage allow him to consistently win at the line of scrimmage.
“The biggest thing with Jon is his initial quickness and burst. He’s a slippery guy,” former Florida defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said. “You can go back and look at Terrell Suggs coming out of Arizona State. He didn’t run very fast, and he dropped some because of that in the draft. What you run is just a portion of what a player is.”
Greenard’s trademark intensity, hard-hitting style and passion for football, the game he’s played since he was 5 years old, were major reasons Grantham wanted him as a cornerstone of his defense after recruiting him initially to Louisville.
Greenard was definitely ready for the jump in competition.
Greenard led Louisville with 15½ tackles for losses in 2017 and also recorded seven sacks. He was named team captain. In 2018, a major wrist injury sidelined him.
That preceded his decision to transfer to Florida and compete in the SEC. Greenard returned a fumble 80 yards for a touchdown against Vanderbilt. He had three sacks against Florida State, delivering a crushing hit on freshman quarterback Jordan Travis that caused a fumble.
“Honestly, the intangibles Jon had were why I wanted to bring him to Gainesville,” Grantham said. “We were in the transition of taking over the program, and we had some young players coming in that I wanted him to be around. Quite frankly, within the first quarter of the first game, he became the leader of that defense.
“Jon has the passion. He wants to be the best at everything he does. He’s going to come early for meetings. He’s going to prepare in the weight room and film room and work his tail off. The way he attacks meetings, practices — everything he does is game day.”
Greenard worked overtime this summer training with several of his teammates, including defensive tackles Maliek Collins and Jaleel Johnson and defensive ends Jacob Martin and Jordan Jenkins, under the tutelage of private defensive line coach Brandon Jordan, who trains some of the top pass rushers around the NFL.
“Anytime you work with BT, it opens up things from top to bottom,” Greenard said. “Everything he sees from me, it opens up a lot of things from a pass rushing repertoire. That’s why so many people go to him to work.”
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